Dog day trout.

Last night of the trip...Aug. 9th...camped on the double point site, north side of Burke Lake with Outlander.  Fish was on the dinner menu, so about 2:30 PM, hopped into the canoe solo, paddling east into the back bay, slow trolling a jig on the shore side and a Husky Jerk-7 perch pattern on the lake side.  I just figured anything for the pan, most likely a pike.  In less than 10 minutes and 300 yards from camp, it hit heavy.  I got it close enough to see the white belly and figured, yup, pike, but then saw the white on the leading edge of the fins - laker!  It then went on a tear, singing the drag for a good 6 seconds - a strong fish.  I wasn't trolling deep - maybe 12 feet, but was on what seemed like the edge of a hole.  At 26.5" and about 7 pounds, I had dinner AND breakfast!  Sometimes it's all about the right place, the right time.

BTW - 12 Step Program....12 lures = 12 steps by my count.

pd